Australia’s next top transgender model

By Damien Woolnough| 2 years ago

Image: Instagram/Iamgemmacowling

The Adelaide teenager's beautiful success

Striking Adelaide teenager Gemma Cowling will take a bold step for diversity on the Australian runway tomorrow night at the program launch of the Adelaide Fashion Festival. Cowling, who will strut alongside Gucci favourite Lily Nova in Ancler at the event, has become a champion of transgender rights since taking her story to the media in June.

Cowling, 19, follows in the footsteps of another proud Australian transgender model Andrej Pejic who has worked with Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs and appeared in the David Bowie video for The Stars alongside Tilda Swinton and the late singer.

The fashion industry has recently become more embracing of transgender models and social acceptance is spreading with Givenchy favourite and transgender activist and anti-bullying campaigner Lea T appearing in the opening ceremony at the Rio Olympics.

Progress still needs to be made following the outpouring of support in Rio. Dutch designer Matthijs van Bergen and artist Oeri van Woezik have worked with Dutch LGBT organisation COC. The designer created a dress made from 72 flags of countries where homosexuality is still illegal.

Transgender model Valentijn de Hingh was photographed by Pieter Henket in the dress in front of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum.